BYD aims to complete its $1 billion production facility in Indonesia by the end of 2025, underscoring its commitment to expanding in Southeast Asia’s competitive automotive market. The plant, situated in Subang, West Java, will focus on producing EVs for export, according to Eagle Zhao, president director of BYD’s Indonesian unit.
“Every single progression of our local manufacturing is quite smooth and also on the track. We will keep our commitment, which is by end-2025, we will complete the construction works,” Zhao said in a joint interview with Reuters and CNBC Indonesia.
The facility, set to produce 150,000 EVs annually, aligns with Indonesia’s goal of manufacturing 600,000 EVs domestically by 2030. Zhao added that the first vehicles are expected to roll off the assembly line soon after the plant’s completion.
With this investment, BYD benefits from temporary exemptions on import duties, a measure designed to promote EV adoption and attract automakers. In 2024, BYD reported sales of 15,429 units in Indonesia, capturing 36% of the battery-based EV market between January and November.
Zhao highlighted BYD’s product strategy in Indonesia, stating, “We plan to introduce more models this year to achieve rapid growth in sales by 2025.” The company has already launched four models, including the Seal sedan, Atto 3 SUV, Dolphin hatchback, and the M6 MPV, which was the best-seller among them last year. BYD is also set to debut its premium Denza brand in the country this week.
The Indonesian facility follows BYD’s $490 million investment in Thailand, where it opened its first Southeast Asian EV plant with a capacity of 150,000 units per year. The company’s expansion comes as it challenges the dominance of Japanese and Korean automakers in the region.
Globally, BYD surpassed its 2024 sales target, delivering over 4 million units. In Singapore, it extended its lead over Tesla in the first half of 2024, further cementing its position as a key player in the global EV market.